Being heard in the boardroom can make or break your ability to be effective at work. If you're talked over, ignored or left out of decision-making, it's a lot more challenging to enjoy complete ownership of a project or idea. And gender plays an undeniable factor in who is likely to get the floor.

Have you read the news? Of course, you've read the news. Amazon is acquiring Whole Foods in a deal worth $13.4 billion. It's huge - and not just for the price tag. Amazon is finalizing its push into the grocery business and acquiring another income stream into its already bustling enterprise - expanding its brick-and-mortar footprint. Here's why that's smart.

Have you always dreamed of being your own boss? Do you have a side hustle you want to turn into something more? You aren't alone. Making your own money doing what you love is a part of the American dream. However, maintaining cash flow can be a real challenge.

Alternative investments are big business, and they are gaining in popularity. Around $3.8 trillion in assets are under management in venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE), and a whopping $495 billion in aggregate capital raised. According to DarcMatter, some alternative investment funds have seen a 70 percent jump in participation over the past two years. It's no wonder. They provide a way for wealthy individuals to invest in unlisted and growing companies (big upside) while offering a source of funding for startups and mature companies that want to escape traditional financing structures.

Approaching salary negotiations can be daunting, especially if you haven’t done much asking over the course of your career. It's unfortunate, but there are many women who do not think to ask for a salary raise or, even know how to approach negotiations. The following tips and tricks will provide some assistance.

You might have been hearing about the "Fed Rate" increase in the news lately. Last month, the Federal Reserve voted to increase its benchmark short-term interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point. Now, that might sound really small, but this is only the second time the rate has gone up in roughly 10 years and there are some signs that December's Fed Rate increase is only the beginning.

The trendy retail startup Nasty Gal spent years as a success story. Led by founder Sophia Amoruso, the company seemed to have a knack for picking items that women just had to have. Between that and a smart e-commerce strategy, Nasty Gal seemed unstoppable -- or at least it did until November 2016 when the company filed for bankruptcy.

Over the last decade, we have seen an exponential surge in women business owners. There has also been a growing number of women entrepreneurs shifting from ownership in small businesses to scalable growth companies. Additionally, to maximize scale and growth opportunities, there are some girl bosses who have decided to make their drive for success a joint effort.

In a world that is perplexed, afraid, and overwhelmed by the recent election, the role women play in not just politics, but corporate America is one that demands clear definition. For entrepreneurs and business executives, quarter four (Q4) requires intentional strategies to seal the deal. For powerful, intelligent, savvy, and sophisticated women, charting a path for success is not optional. Whether you’re an executive in need of sharpening your sales skills or a budding entrepreneur with a million dollar idea, how you position yourself determines how you accomplish your objectives.

Have you ever tried to reduce debt, improve savings, or make progress on your financial goals, but didn’t know where to start? It may have seemed like an impossible hurdle because you didn’t have the money to get ahead. You may have even thought that if something drastic didn’t change, then you would be stuck in a financial rut forever. The good news is that you don’t have to get a raise or hit the lottery to make progress on your financial goals.